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Reports on insurgency in Iraq and the United States-led military occupation. Idea that President George W. Bush is contemplating a rapid exit from Iraq and how it would affect Saudi Arabia; Efforts to shift more authority to a new Iraqi government; Discussion of whether the guerrilla movement is growing, the similarity between "Iraqification" and Vietnamization, and how American administrator Paul Bremer will hand off political power; Outlook for Ahmad Chalabi to be installed as leader; Reaction of King Fahd to terrorism in Riyadh; Saudi raids on suspected al Qaeda operatives; View that establishing a democracy in the Middle East will be more difficult for President Bush.

Discusses the search for al Qaeda by U.S. terrorist hunters. Retracing of the war on terror; Impact of America's frontline agents on disabling the al Qaeda terrorist network; Concern over future terrorist attacks in the U.S.; Warnings from al Qaeda official Ayman al-Zawahiri following bombings in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

Offers news briefs related to world politics. Actor Joe Pantoliano's addiction to news following 9/11; Home of Mississippi Senator Trent Lott which was demolished by Hurricane Katrina; Limitations that continue for women travelers to Saudi Arabia; TV viewing figures for shows featuring Senator Barack Obama; Other news.

Reports on efforts of the United States and its allies to destroy the al Qaeda terrorist network in the war on terrorism. Idea that most of the key operatives are dead or in U.S. custody as of September 2003; Concern that the followers of Osama bin Laden are still a threat because of its record since September 11, 2001, which includes suicide bombings and attacks on aircraft with shoulder-fired missiles; How the bombings in Saudi Arabia could contribute to the demise of al Qaeda.

Reports on an investigation of a 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers complex, a high-rise apartment building for United States troops in the Persian Gulf. Indictment of members of the Saudi chapter of the Hezbollah group allegedly behind the attack; Efforts of U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation director, Louis Freeh, to solve the case; Unwillingness of the Saudi government to help with the case; Suggestion that the Iranian government supported the terrorists.

Describes the capital city of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. How Riyadh reminds the author of the American Southwest; The lack of democracy in Saudi Arabia; Religious restrictions; Opinion that the Saudis are making a leap into modernity; Suggestion that Saudis are not anti-American; Suggestion that they are open to the influence of popular culture and fashion; The dating custom.

Offers a look at international relations between the U.S. President George W. Bush administration and the Saudi government. Refusal of Bush to declassify pages of a congressional report on the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that detail Saudi involvement in the hijackings; Comments made by the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud Faisal; Funding of terrorist groups provided by Saudi organizations.

Examines what role Saudi Arabian officials played in the planning of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Belief of some members of the U.S. House and the Senate intelligence committees that officials in the Saudi government were involved; Discovery that money from a bank account of the wife of the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, supported two hijackers; Reports that Saudi charities and members of the royal family have funneled money to terrorists; Sketchy and inconclusive nature of the information about Saudi involvement; Efforts of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency to press the congressional panel not to include classified intelligence on the Saudis in their reports because the information is inadequate; Acknowledgement by Saudi Embassy spokesman Nail al-Jubeir that the Saudis paid the legal fees for Saudi-born citizens who were detained by U.S. law enforcement agencies investigating the attacks.

Discusses the investigation into a bombing of a United States military apartment complex in Saudi Arabia in 1996. Efforts of U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Louis Freeh to solve to case; Resistance of Saudi officials to cooperate; How new prosecutors were assigned to the case in 2001, an attempt to solve the bombing.

Addresses the attempts being made to link Saudi Arabian exile Osama bin Laden to the terrorist attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in October 2000. Reasons for believing that bin Laden is connected to the attack; How two suspects already in custody, and another at large, are suspected to be a part of bin Laden's al Qaeda network; Difficulty for officials to officially link the terrorist attack to bin Laden.